LEE RUDNICKI, ATTORNEY AT LAW, P.C.

LEE RUDNICKI - PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

Lee Rudnicki, a distinguished and visionary transactional entertainment attorney, has cultivated a dynamic and multifaceted career with clients and projects that span the globe. He orchestrates and successfully concludes deals with finesse and precision, illustrating his legal acumen in entertainment law and negotiations.

Before becoming a lawyer, Lee was a world-class rudimental drummer. Personally endorsed by Pearl Drums and Zildjian Cymbals, he won the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championship in 1989 with the Santa Clara Vanguard and received three DCI High Percussion Awards. Lee pursued a B.A. in Music Performance from San Jose State University, which he completed in 1991.

In 1995, Lee entered law school at the University of San Francisco, where he also completed international law studies at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, and Trinity College School of Law in Dublin, Ireland. He earned his J.D. in 1998. Lee later added a Professional Certificate in Screenwriting from UCLA in 2007, gaining a nuanced understanding of the creative process in Hollywood. His commitment to legal education is evident through his role as an adjunct law professor at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law and as a panel attorney for California Lawyers for the Arts. Lee’s textbook, *How to Pass the California Bar Exam*, is currently in its 3rd edition.

Lee's legal career began at the Silicon Valley technology company Vividence, where he served as corporate counsel and lead technology licensing negotiator. His contributions included drafting a contract negotiation playbook that dramatically streamlined the review process, enabling business affairs and sales teams to close large and complex deals quickly. From 2002 to 2004, Lee was an entertainment litigator with the San Francisco firms Idell, Berman & Seitel, and Jacobs & Ferraro, earning a reputation as a tenacious litigator on behalf of high-profile clients such as Clear Channel, the San Francisco Symphony, and Bill Graham Presents.

From 2004 to 2010, Lee served as General Counsel for Eleven Arts, a Los Angeles-based sales agent and production company. He drafted and negotiated contracts for numerous Japanese/American co-productions, including *The Harimaya Bridge*, executive produced by Danny Glover, and *Haunted Highway*, Junichi Suzuki’s first feature film in the U.S. Lee traveled extensively to Japan, fostering relationships with studios and investors, securing deals, and helping to build an extensive library for worldwide distribution. He also represented Eleven Arts at the Cannes Film Market, expanding the library through strategic international co-productions and targeted theatrical releases.

From 2010 to 2018, Lee was General Counsel for Strange Quark Films, a venture formed by a multinational investment entity to produce media content, including the television pilot *Rome14* and the film *Albedo Absolute*. In 2016, Lee produced the feature film *Wonderwell* in Italy, starring Hollywood legend Carrie Fisher and pop star Rita Ora. Lee coordinated the production from Cinecittà in Rome, and his ability to facilitate effective communication and collaboration on the international team was instrumental in the successful production of the movie.

From 2018 to 2023, Lee was the Executive Vice President of Business Affairs at Lex and Otis Studios, an animation studio in Glendale, California. He contributed significantly to studio operations by providing expertise in entertainment law, finance, copyright, tax incentives, insurance, and corporate risk management. Lee served as production counsel for high-profile video games and animated series in collaboration with Netflix and Studio Wildcard projects, including *Ark: Survival Evolved*, *Army of the Dead*, *RAID: Shadow Legends*, and *Trese*. He excelled in managing intellectual property matters and overseeing producers, legal personnel, HR, and support staff. Currently, Lee serves as outside counsel for Lex and Otis Studios and production counsel for the company’s various animated series.

In addition to his work as an attorney, Lee has produced films worldwide. Many of these producer credits resulted from Lee stepping in to solve large unforeseen problems during production. His hands-on experience, relentless positive energy, and can-do, nothing-is-impossible attitude are invaluable to film and television productions.